Girdle



United States Patent v 1111 3,533,412

[72] lnventor Anna Y. Bayer [56] References Cited Cmmemwt UNITED STATES PATENTS P 2,092,900 9/1937 Wipperman 128/539 [22] F1led Jan. 17,1968 7 [45] P, tlmed Oct 13 1970 2,034,417 4/1953 Kaplan 128/539 7 3,026,875 3/1962 Kaupp.... 128/540 3,395,712 8/1968 LaguZZi 128/547 {54] GIRDLE Primary ExaminerAdele M. Eager 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs. Arl0rney-M0rgan, Finnegan, Durham and Pine [52] US. Cl 128/547,

128/528, 128/555 ABSTRACT: A girdle adapted to flatten the abdomen by the [51] Int. Cl A41c 1/08 provision of a multilaminar front panel including a layer of [50] Field of Search 128/525, one-way up and down stretch elastic material positioned and 526, 527, 528. 539, 540, 545. 546, 547, 548, 555 shaped to overlie the abdomen.

Patented Oct. 13, 1970 FIG.4

INVENTOR. ANNA Y BA YER ATTORNEYS GIRDLE BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF INVENTION The function of a girdle is to support, confine and shape or mold the body of the wearer. To this end, girdles have been made of rigid fabrics and, more recently, of relatively inflexible elastic support materials. However, regardless of the material employed, the conventional girdle has exhibited a serious shortcoming where the shaping or molding of the body is concerned. The conventional girdle only tends to shift the unwanted bulk en masse from one area of the body to another. As a result, the shape of the wearer may be improved at one area of the torso or when viewed from a particular angle, but unsightly bulges are created at other areas especially at the abdomen where the profile of the wearer takes on an uneven appearance evidencing the existence of the unwanted bulk which the wearer is trying hard to conceal.

It is a general object of the instant invention to eliminate the foregoing shortcoming in the prior art by providing a girdle which exerts more gentle body control and provides more uniform distribution of excess bulk.

It is a more particular object of the instant invention to provide a girdle as characterized which is specially constructed to flatten the abdomen of the wearer.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a girdle as characterized which permits relative freedom of movement at all times.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages are accomplished in accordance with the instant invention by the provision of a girdle having a multilaminar front panel including a layer of one-way up and down stretch elastic material positioned and shaped to overlie the abdomen and an inner layer of two-way short stretch elastic reinforcement material. Preferably, the front panel is of a three-ply construction including an outer layer of two-way lace elastic, and the inner reinforcement layer extends laterally over the hips. In one preferred form as embodied in a panty girdle, the inner reinforcement layer extends downwardly to the bottom of the legs, being shaped below the groin to eliminate double control and permit freedom of movement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Having summarized the invention, a detailed description follows with reference being had to the accompanying drawings incorporated herein as a part of the specification, of which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a typical panty girdle embodying the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to that of FIG. 1 but with the front panel broken away to reveal its multilaminar construction;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the garment of FIG. 1 taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view of the garment of FIG. 1 taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT Turning now in detail to the drawings wherein like reference characters are employed to designate like parts throughout, a girdle of the panty-type is illustrated as an exemplary embodiment of the invention. Girdle 10 is adapted in the usual manner to provide support and restraint from the waist down through the thigh areas. As such, the gannent is constructed with an upper section 11 adapted to encircle the waist, hips and abdomen of the wearer in form fitting fashion as shown. Extending downwardly from upper section 11 are a pair of leg sections 12 which are adapted to encircle the legs of the wearer down through the thighs.

The garment is constructed largely of short stretch powernet fabric or an equivalent elastic material in order to provide the degree of support and confinement required, as in conventional girdles.

In accordance with the instant invention a panel 13 of special shape and construction is provided in the front of the girdle to eliminate bulges and produce a flattening of the body in the region of the abdomen. To this end, front panel 13 is shaped to overlie the abdomen ofthe wearer from the waist 14 down through the crotch l5 and is ofa multilaminar construction including a layer of one-way stretch elastic material 16 which is oriented as diagrammatically illustrated in the drawings for extension in the up and down direction only. As embodied herein, panel 13 is constructed with an outer layer of lace material 17 having but limited elasticity and an inner layer of two-way short stretch elastic reinforcement material 18.

Illustratively, panel I3 has a generally inverted triangular configuration, the base of which is defined by the waist 14 of the garment. Intermediate one-way stretch layer 16 and its lace overlay 17 are cut in the aforesaid triangular configuration and are stitched to the garment proper along converging seams l9 and 20, as shown, as well as along upper seam 21 at the waist 16 and lower seam 22 at the crotch 15. The inner reinforcement layer 18 extends laterally over the hips and downwardly to the bottom of leg sections I2 and is joined to the garment along a pair of vertical side seams 23 and 24, along waist seam 21 at the top, and along a series of seams (not designated) to the leg sections. In addition, reinforcement layer 18 is shaped below the groin, as will be understood, to eliminate double control and afford freedom of movement to the wearer.

As has already been pointed out and as clearly illustrated by the arrows in the drawings, the different layers of multilaminar front panel 13 have different stretch characteristics. The lace overlay 17 has two-way stretch characteristics, but is inherently of limited extensibility, as is well-known to those versed in the art. The inner reinforcement layer 18 is formed from a two-way short stretch elastic material, powernet, leno and tricot being a few of the more well-known materials having the desired stretch characteristics. One-way filling stretch leno has been found to be a useful and satisfactory material for the intermediate panel 16 of the three-ply construction.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that unusual support and control is attained at and about the region of the abdomen by virtue of the shaped multilaminar front panel of the garment. Three-ply support is provided with invisible support and control being provided by the hidden intermediate layer whose one-way up and down stretch characteristics prevent the formation of unsightly bulges by eliminating horizontal elasticity thus tending to distribute the flesh more evenly rather than merely shifting it in bulk. The inner short stretch layer provides reinforcement and initially engages and molds the body to effect more gentle control, while the outer lace overlay serves as an additional restraint and camouflaging medium.

It is thought that the nature and many advantages of the instant invention will now be understood by those skilled in the art and that various modifications will suggest themselves. It is to be understood, for example, that the invention is not limited to panty girdles and that any other type of foundation garment possessing the construction features described herein will have the benefits and advantages contemplated by the instant invention. Moreover, the invention is not limited to the details, elements, configurations and arrangements herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention, but changes can be made therefrom without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims, and without sacrificing its chief advantages.-

I claim:

1. A girdle comprising an elastic body encircling member adapted to confine and shape the body of the wearer from the waist down through the hips and abdomen, said member having a multilaminar front panel positioned and shaped to overlie the abdomen formed of a layer of one-way stretch elastic material oriented for extension in the up and down direction only and an inner layer of two-way short stretch elastic material underlying said one-way stretch layer.

two-way short stretch material being joined to the rest of the layers of said front panel along the top and extending laterally over the hips where it is joined to the outer material of said body encircling members 

